Restoration Begins for Historical Dormitories at Wenchang Elementary School to Preserve Hakka Heritage

The restoration project for the old dormitory group at Wenchang Elementary School in Xiluo Town broke ground today. Expected to be completed in April 2027, the Hakka Affairs Council hopes the project will combine school and community resources to serve as a venue for language and cultural education, deepening the roots of Hakka culture in the Xiluo area. Vice Chairperson of the Hakka Affairs Council, Liao Yu-pei, and Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan attended the ceremony. Liao noted that Yunlin is home to one of the most concentrated Zhao'an Hakka populations, and Xiluo is a vital cultural node. The council has supported various restoration projects in the area to show its commitment. Magistrate Chang stated that Wenchang Elementary holds a century of educational memories, and the dormitories reflect the campus life from the Japanese colonial era to the early post-war period. The project, with a total budget of NT$44 million, will preserve original materials and spatial textures while introducing structural reinforcement and safety measures. Future uses include educational displays and community sharing to revitalize the historical space.